Russia’s national team builds a broad player pool for future tests
Valery Karpin, the head coach, spoke about ongoing selection work for upcoming fixtures in an interview with The Call-Up. He explained that a pool of 49 players has been assembled to support the national team’s plans, emphasizing that this preparation is forward-looking and designed to align with the international window rather than react to a single matchday. The coach noted that the process has been in motion across federation channels for some time and mentioned that press reports had already circulated about three early games. He indicated that two additional warm-up matches involving the Egyptian Olympic team had reportedly gained high-level approval within the Egyptian Football Federation, to his understanding.
The Russian Football Union (RFC) has not issued a formal public statement about these games. Karpin pointed out that there are many logistics to finalize and terms to sign for each encounter. Still, the technical staff cannot wait for official confirmations; players must be invited in advance to meet scheduling rules about club calls and release windows. The manager stressed that the team will test new combinations and workload planning during this preparatory phase, ahead of a potential September schedule. Each call is intended to fit with players’ club commitments as closely as possible.
According to Karpin, the squad being assembled for these trials will include players born in 2001 and younger, who are set to compete against the Egyptian Olympic team. The program also contemplates a match against the Qatar national team without age restrictions, enabling a broader evaluation of talent and tactical integration under competitive conditions. The plan appears to involve two separate squads to cover the three matches. From the group of 49 players, subtracting five goalkeepers leaves 44 outfield players. That means roughly 22 outfield players could be allocated to each squad, giving the coaching staff a wide pool to rotate and assess.
The team gatherings are scheduled from September 4 to 12 in Novogorsk, with dates and opponents to be announced by the Russian Football Union. The broader context remains that FIFA and UEFA historically excluded Russia’s national team and all Russian clubs from international competition in the spring of 2022. This decision has framed the current cycle and the federation’s approach to friendlies and youth development opportunities. Public discussions about these upcoming games reflect ongoing strategic aims to provide playing time, evaluate emerging talent, and maintain competitive readiness within the constraints set by international governing bodies.
Earlier comments attributed to Mostovoy described the situation as “stupid” and a “nightmare,” coloring interpretations of Karpin’s approach to balancing development with competitive pressure. The current stance appears focused on practical preparation, clear communication with clubs, and a forward-looking approach to integrating younger players into senior competition when permissible. Observers in Canada and the United States may see this as part of a broader trend in which nations reshape talent pipelines and scheduling around evolving eligibility rules and federation strategies for youth development and national pride. (Citation: RFU briefing coverage, sports analysis notes)